Our legal system is making progress. With heavier enforcement, longer sentences and stiffer penalties, make it more risky and in the big picture less lucrative to exploit girls and young women. Hopefully, over time this is a piece of the puzzle that will help prevent other other victims.

So sad to see, again, how these predators target the most vulnerable - young girls at the age of just starting high school; and as one of the victims described, the family routinely preyed on "young women who are mentally slow and/or vulnerable" when recruiting them for prostitution.

Both brothers are accused of taking drastic measures to keep their victims under their control. In April 2011, Washington-Davis brought a victim to a hotel in Ely so she couldn't talk with her family members and so that they wouldn't know where she was.

What Can We Do?

Protect our children:If there are children in your life or periphery that are vulnerable through weak family support, social alienation, bullying, menal or physical challenges - Reach out. In your family, school, church, neighborhood. Be a source of strength and support. Even in little doses, you never know what small acts make a difference.

There are victims because there are willing consumers:Based on the statistics, we all know consumers.One of the greatest things we can do as individuals is not to be afraid to talk about this.It is hiding in plain sight.